Ritzwell is a global furniture brand originating from Fukuoka, Japan, established in 1992. From its outset, Ritzwell has maintained a global vision, debuting at Milano Salone del Mobile in 2008 and distinguishing itself as the first Asian exhibitor in Hall 5 in 2016. Renowned for its fusion of quality design and the refined craftsmanship of Japanese artisans, that is based in its philosophy, Ritzwell has secured numerous international design accolades such as the German iF Design Award, RED DOT Award, and Chicago Good Design Award.
Embodying Japanese aesthetics, the products showcase intricate beauty and emphasize the warmth of their materials. Widely esteemed by professional customers globally, Ritzwell’s products grace many luxury hotels, resorts, and residences, both in Japan and internationally.
The company’s mission is to be a “life-changing furniture brand” that stands the test of time and transcends borders, with a focus on comfortable spaces, enriched design, and dedicated furniture crafting.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
RITZWELL: We are a furniture manufacturer that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells original furniture, many of which are designed by the company’s president, Shinsaku Miyamoto.
In Japan, Ritzwell has showrooms and offices in Fukuoka, Osaka, and Tokyo, and outside Japan, Ritzwell Italia S.r.l. was established in 2013 to expand its global sales channels. In 2019 we opened our new Itoshima Seaside Factory in Fukuoka, where our company was founded, and in 2022 opened our first street-front store, Ritzwell Omotesando SHOP & ATELIER, in Kita-Aoyama, Tokyo. The Ritzwell Omotesando SHOP & ATELIER is a store that includes an ATELIER where craftsmen work. The shop was created in the hope that visitors will be able to experience the richness of the time-consuming and painstaking work that goes into making furniture in an age when interpersonal contact tends to be rare.
Since opening the Itoshima Seaside Factory in 2019, Ritzwell has hosted pop-up events, including the “Handcraft Exhibition” and artisan presentations at the Design Hall of the Fiera Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Italy. These events highlight the essence of Ritzwell’s core products and foster meaningful interactions between consumers and craftsmen.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
RITZWELL: We unveiled six distinct products in 2023. Our designs go beyond mere furniture, aiming to offer sensory experiences that enrich their lives and daily activities. The challenges of the Corona epidemic provided an impetus to reflect on our design direction and what ideal furniture ought to be. This year, we’ve accentuated thick leather, a signature Ritzwell material, and integrated artisanal processing and hand-stitched techniques. We’re confident that our line-up will resonate with users, offering unparalleled experiences compared to mass-produced counterparts. The experience of the Covid-19 crisis and the resulting restrictions on behavior and lack of human contact had a major influence on this. Further, new launches are programmed for 2024’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, though specifics remain under wraps.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
RITZWELL: Initially, our product line predominantly featured armchairs and lounge chairs. Over time, sofas, dining tables, and beloved collections like “JK” emerged. Since 2017, Ritzwell has won the iF design award, the RED DOT award, and other prestigious international design awards, and has been recognized and expanding not only in Japan but worldwide. While our designs evolve, the Ritzwell’s unique philosophy remains constant, seamlessly marrying timeless aesthetics with contemporary trends.
Although these are catalog items, there are many options in terms of materials and sizes. By offering these products as semi-custom pieces, we aim to create furniture that adapts to the diversity of space and is close to people’s daily lives.
Our designs shine in blending materials like solid wood, leather, and steel, with techniques and balances that bring out the best in each, reflecting Ritzwell’s enduring vision, that guides the company since its foundation. The meticulous craftsmanship threads all our products, showcasing our dedication to quality and the beauty of details.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
RITZWELL: Within our active markets, B-to-C sales in Japan have notably surged. We have gradually started to work on owned media channels since 2018, and our website was extensively redesigned in 2022. Although our new product launches every year aren’t strongly market-driven, Ritzwell’s visibility has notably amplified through strategic branding efforts. Even with annual price adjustments, our clientele base is evolving, leaning towards upscale consumers, thereby increasing our average sales value more than item prices. Recently, luxury hotels attuned to the nuances of the Japanese climate and try to incorperatre the rich heritage and essence of Japanese culture into their concepts have selected us.
We’ve directly observed that it’s not just Ritzwell garnering attention, but also the age-old Japanese culture and the artisans’ meticulous craftsmanship and refined sensibilities that are being celebrated. The Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, which debuted this spring as the eighth establishment in the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts collection, showcases designs by Shinsaku Miyamoto in all 98 guest rooms and suites, as well as the Bulgari Bar and Bulgari Spa. I attribute these accomplishments to our international perspective established from our inception and our relentless endeavors to represent the ethos and designs of our Japanese brand Ritzwell at the Milano Salone, the premier global furniture trade show.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
RITZWELL: Reflecting on Ritzwell’s 31-year journey, the JK coffee table stands out as a pivotal innovation in our legacy. This design represented a significant turning point for our company. At that time, we made the unique choice to utilize “natural solid wood with an oil finish,” a concept then unfamiliar to many consumers. Marrying diverse materials, the tabletop featured intricate, organic lines evocative of Japanese shrine and temple rooftops, complemented by slender, understated steel legs. This design philosophy, which seamlessly captures and contrasts material essences, has become emblematic of Ritzwell and continues to captivate, even two decades post-launch. Then in 2013, our next big step in developing the brand was the launch of DIANA (sofa), MARCEL (chair) and CLAUDE (chair, armchair, armchair).
These representative pieces encapsulate Ritzwell’s vision, inspired by the concept of “breathing the wind of the times into the unchanging traditional beauty cultivated in the climate and lifestyle of Japan” embodied in our theme, “What Ritzwell aspires to and its spirituality.” The intricate carvings, reminiscent of Buddhist sculptures and realized through advanced CNC technology, coupled with the graceful contours celebrating wood’s natural flexibility, and the exceptional upholstery techniques unattainable in mass production, exude a serene elegance deeply resonant with the Japanese. With these creations, Ritzwell remains committed to exploring the depth and potential of handcrafted furniture, all while leveraging cutting-edge technology.